RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Verizon is still the No. 1 wireless provider across a matrix of categories, according to testing and research firm RootMetrics. However, AT&T is cutting into Verizon’s lead.

“Verizon remains the carrier to beat at the national level,” RootMetrics says in its latest report covering the second half of 2019.

Verizon is tops in 660 market tests to 401 over AT&T. But AT&T gained 21 spots while Verizon lost 12. Sprint and T-Mobile trail by wide margins.

“Verizon continued its run of excellence in our national testing, winning or sharing all six awards and delivering fast speeds. Verizon’s aggregate median download speed of 32.7 Mbps was faster than those of Sprint and T-Mobile and was comparable to that of AT&T. Verizon also added to its record-setting performance streak, winning United States RootScore Awards outright in the categories of overall performance, network reliability, data performance, and call performance for the thirteenth straight time.”

However, AT&T is making progress.

“AT&T remains a strong national performer with fast speeds,” RootMetrics says.

“AT&T performed quite well in general, with second-place rankings in five categories and a tie for first with Verizon in the text category. AT&T was also fast: AT&T’s national aggregate median download speed of 33.1 Mbps was much faster than those of Sprint (23.1 Mbps) and T-Mobile (24.6 Mbps) and was comparable to that of Verizon (32.7 Mbps).”

Sprint and T-Mobile are still seeking regulatory approval to merge.

Here’s what the report says about both:

  • T-Mobile’s results remain generally consistent: T-Mobile’s award total improved by one since 1H 2019. The carrier earned more awards
    than Sprint and showed modest improvements in our data and call performance categories.
  • Sprint delivers strong text results in state testing: While Sprint took home the fewest state-level awards among all carriers in 2H 2019, the
    carrier’s text results remained strong, with Sprint earning all nine of its state-level awards for text performance